HerStory: The Black Women Behind Black Lives Matter

#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 after George Zimmerman was acquitted of Trayvon Martin’s death by three black women: Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi. 

On July 13, 2013, Alicia Garza posted on her Facebook, “black people. I love you. I love us. Our lives matter. Cullors took the inspirational post and shared with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, and Opal Tometi got inspired and created the website BlackLivesMatter.com.”

The organization adopted the colors black and yellow as their signature colors, and from there, a movement was born.

In an interview with The Guardian, Tometi shared why Black Lives Matter is so important and how the organization doesn’t want to take away from the “individuals and the love that their families have” for those that have lost their lives.

According to Black Lives Matter’s website, Patrisse Cullors says that they never wanted to be recognized for their work but for the movement. Their work has guided their path to liberation, justice, and equality.

After so many lives have been lost from Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and so many more, this movement is beginning to open the eyes of those that have turned a blind eye to what is really going on today.

Cullors, Garza, and Tometi were named TIME’s Top 100 Most Influential People of 2020 in September. According to the organization’s website, after being recognized for their hard work, they want to continue the movement with three calls to action.

1. First, by ensuring that you, your family, friends, and the entire community will wear a MASK and VOTE early, or vote by mail. On Election Day, November 3, 2020, vote up and down the ballot.
2. Secondly, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s lasting wish was that her seat on the nation’s highest court not be filled until after a new president is sworn in. We must reach out to our US Senators to ensure her voice is heard and her request fulfilled.
3. Lastly, we are calling on Joe Biden and Donald Trump, no matter who is inaugurated on January 20, 2021, to make a commitment to sign the BREATHE Act into law within the first 100 days of their administration.